Rotorua Canopy Tours recieves highest accolade

Rotorua Canopy Tours.

Rotorua Canopy Tours won the tourism industry's highest accolade at the Tourism Industry Awards last Thursday night, honouring New Zealand's best tourism providers. Rotorua Canopy Tours, launched just four years ago, won the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award, thanks to their "complete product that ticks all the boxes". TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts said: "At the heart of its success is an exceptional visitor experience that has raised the bar of personalisation, authenticity and fun, attracting a premium price tag." As part of their prize, Rotorua Canopy Tours receives international air travel to any Air New Zealand destination valued at $10,000 (+GST) to help them grow their tourism business.

TIA Winners II

Individual winners were recognised as well, with the Sir Jack Newman Award for an outstanding industry leader going to Wellington's George Hickton, the man behind the development of the 100 per cent Pure New Zealand branding campaign. Hickton was Chief Exec of Tourism NZ from 1999 to 2009 and "100 per cent Pure..." is recognised as his most outstanding achievement. Hickton continues to inspire the tourism industry - he is chair of the Hawke's Bay Tourism Board, a Weta Workshop Director and was most recently Project Director of Wellington's new Movie Museum.

TIA Winners III

The NZME-sponsored People's Choice Award, as voted by Travel readers, went to Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours. The Waikato-based Hobbit experience is a popular one - it also won the Business Excellence Award (annual turnover more than $6 million), and the Tourism Marketing Campaign Award. Other company winners on the night included Black Cat Cruises - Canterbury, Destination Rotorua and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. For the full list of winners, go to tia.org.nz.

IFEA Winner I

And the accolades keep on coming... Taupo was a winner at the International Festivals and Events Association World Festival and Event City Awards in Tucson, Arizona last week. The award recognises regions that provide an environment conducive to successful events. Taupo was recognised for IRONMAN New Zealand, Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, Taupo Summer Concert, the Great Lake Relay and Wanderlust Great Lake Taupo. "It's fantastic Taupo has been recognised for the second time as being up there with the best," said Destination Great Lake Taupo GM Damian Coutts.